Autoamtic wire tier for balers



July 4, 1950 R. R. RANEY EI'AL AUTOMATIC WIRE TIER FOR BALERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26,. 1947 (I sQ Ns oLs cLm-v PING NEEDLE TRAVEL-STARTS m fiyezziaza 2 2155612 A? ffi czzzg y James flier/gala July 4, 1950 R. R. RANEY EI'AL AUTOMATIC WIRE TIER FOR BALERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1947 y 1950 R. R. RANEY ETAL 2,513,967

Au'rom'rxc m TIER FOR BALERS Filed Dec. 26, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 4, 1950 R. R. RANEY EI'AL 2,513,967

AUTCMATIC WIRE TIERFOR BALERS Filed Dec. 26, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 y 6 WZJ ZUQJZ CFE FasseZ/ 13?.FCZfdGJ 075x226: 17,3 2 2 July 4, 1950 R. R. RANEY ETAL 2,513,967

AUTOMATIC WIRE TIER FOR BALERS Filed Dec. 26, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 .Zizaezzfiza: FzzaseZZ Z? Fazzgy cfazzzes 1?. 29072 72 R. R. RANEY ET AL AUTOMATIC WIRE TIER FOR BALERS July 4, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 26, 1947 FIG.

INVENTORS RUSSELL R. RANEY JAMES H. BORNZIN ATTY.

Patented July 4, 1950 AUTOMATIC WIRE TIERFOR BALERS Russell R. Raney, La Grange, and James H.

Bornzin, Chicago, Ill., assignors. to Internationa1 Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey 7 Application December 26, 1947, Serial No. 793,910

8 Claims.

1. This invention relates to a new and improved automatic-wire tier for balers. and has for one of its principal objects the provision of means for encircling a strand of wire about aformed bale and twisting the ends of. the wire in such a manner as to securely hold the bale in its formed shape.

An important object of this invention is to provide means. for encircling a precompressed bale of material with a strand of wire in combination with means for holding and shearing theencircled strandand separate means to twist the ends of the bale-encircling strand of wire.

Another important. object of this invention is the provisionof means to extend a tie strand around a bale of material, grip the ends of the tie strand, intertwist the ends of the tie strand on a twister hook, and finally strip the; intertwisted ends from the'twister hook.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a rotor member adapted to receive, grip and cut bale-encircling wires in various positions of its rotating movement, and twister means operating in conjunction with the member to twist the balestrand ends after they have been released and cut by the rotor.

Astill further important object of this invention is to provide. a baling. machine adapted. to compress material into a bale form and, upon attaining somepredetermined size, to automatically encircle the bale with a tyingstrand, and to complete the tying of the strand while commencing encircling of a succeeding bale. being formed without. interference therewith.

Another and still further important object of this inventionis the provision of a baling machine in which there is a definite relationship in the cycle of operation of the" bale-compressing plunger, the strand-encirclingv needle, the strand holding and severing device, and thetwister hook.

A. further object of. this invention is the provision of awirev tying mechanism in which there is employed a single cutting and clamping member.

Other and further important objects 'of this invention will become apparent from the disclosures in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the baler em,- ploying the automaticwire tier of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the baler shown in Figure. 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view partially in section of. a portion of the baler showing the wire twisting and operating mechanisms therefor.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the strand holding rotor and twister hook.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the stran holding rotor taken substantially from the rear and having one tie strand heldtherei'n. Figure 6 is a perspective view similar to Figure vl and showing the strand carrying needle up in position over the rotor.

Figure '7 is a perspective View similar to Figures 4 and 6 in which the needle has been retracted and. the tie is. substantially completed by the twisterv hook.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the strand holding and cutting rotor.

Figure 9 is a front plan view of the holding and cutting rotor.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line IE-lill'of' Figure 9. s

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line.- H'Il of Figure 3.

Figure 12 is an elevational detail of the cammed driving track as shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is an enlarged detail view of the twister hook showing the two strand ends thereover. prior to twisting.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13' showing the strand ends partially twisted and a hold-out member in position to prevent the laying of a succeeding strand of wire onto the twister hook prior to completion of the,, wire twist or tie.

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figures 13 and 14' showing the completed wire twist and being stripped from the twister hook.

Figure 16 is a cycle chart of the various moving elements of the baler of this invention.

Figure, 1.7 is a front elevational detail of the large bevel gearof Figure 3.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral iii. indicates generally an elongatedbale forming chamber extending in a'generally longitudinal direction. The forward endof the bale chamber I0 houses the plunger driving elements and is supported by a forwardly eirtendin'ghitch member H having. a clevis I2 engaging a draw-bar [3 of a pulling. tractor 14.

As shown in Figure Ithe baling machine of this invention, in addition to the longitudinally extending bale forming chamber, has a transversely extendinghay or material pick-up member l5- supported. at its outer end by a wheel it. The pick-up device, l5.includes a rotary pick-up member l1 adapted: to pick up hay or'stra from a windrow-andthrow it upwardly and rearwardly into an auger feed member l8 which feeds the material laterally to a position adjacent the bale forming chamber 10. A pair of gyrating packing arms l9 and 26 receive the material from the auger l8 and carry it through an opening in the side wall of the bale forming chambe III. A plunger 2| as shown in Figure 3 is adapted to reciprocate in the chamber Ill and compress material fed to the chamber through the side opening (not shown). An engine 22 is mounted on top of the chamber [6 and is adapted to impart deciprocating drive to the plunger 2| through the medium of a large gear 23 having a crank arm 24 carrying the piston rod 25 of the plunger 2!. The elements on the pick-up device I5, particularly the cylinder pick-up II, the auger l8, and the packing arms l9 and 26, are drivenby the engine 22 through a gear box 26 and a plurality of drive shafts 21, 28, and 29. The details of these driving mechanisms are shown more particularly in copending application entitled Pick-Up Baler, Serial No. 466,460, and filed November 21, 1942, and which issued as Patent 2,450,082, dated September 28, 1948. .As shown in Figure 2, the engine22 drives a power take-off pulley 36 and by means of a belt 3i and an idler pulley 32 imparts rotational drive to a large flywheel 33.

A strand carrying needle 34 is arcuately shaped and is adapted to be moved upwardly through the bale chamber by means of the arm 35 driven by acrank 36 which derives its power from the engine 22. A guide shield 31 forms a track for the arcuate needle 34. As shown in Figure 3. the needle 34 carries a strand 38 of wire or other tie material which is dispensed from a container 36 housing a coil of the wire used. 7 In order to commence operationof the baler, it is necessary to secure an end of the wire on the upper side of the bale chamber whereupon charges of material to be baled force the wire rearwardly in the chamber Hl'around the front end of the bale 46. The wire held on the top side of the bale chamber is designated bythe numeral 41 and extends through a guide member or raised portion 42 in the topside of the bale chamber l6 and thereupon'downwardly over the forward end of the bale as designated by the numeral 43 and rearwardly as shown by the numeral 44 and around a sheave 45 in the end 'of'the needle34. The raised wire guiding portion .42 is best shown in Figure '7. The strand of wire is confined in the end of the needle by a small sheave 66 at the extreme end of the needle 34 and spaced away from the sheave 45 to allow the strand of wire to pass therethrough. When the bale reaches a predetermined length the needle is actuated and is moved upwardly through the bale chamber carrying a double connected portion of a strand over the rear of the formed bale in timed relationship with the receding plunger 2l. Movement of the needle 34 upwardly to the top of the bale chamber In causes the wire 38 to completely encircle the bale 49, and by means of a holding rotor 41 and a twister hook 48 a tie twist i applied to the encircled wire ends to hold the bale firm in its compact shape,

A shaft 49 as shown in Figure 3 receives rotation from the engine 22 and drives a large mutilated bevel gear 50. The gear 50 has aninner arcuate bevel gear track l which is engaged by a bevel gear 52. The mutilated or non-toothed portion of this gear 5i is shown at I33 in Fig. 17. The gear 52 is mounted on a shaft 53 having'a bevel gear 54 at the other end thereof. The bevel gear 54 meshes with a bevel gear 55. The gear 55 is mounted on a shaft 56 which directly drives the moving parts of the strand holding and cutting rotor 41. The shafts 53 and 56 and the bevel gears 52, 54, and 55 are journally supported in a housing 1; structurei 51 :which is spaced upwardly from the'bale chamber It] by mean of supporting posts or the like 58 and 59. The bevel 41 and twister hook 48 depending upon the mutilation of the gears in the inner and outer gear tracks 5| and 66 respectively.

The rotor 41 consists of a stationary portion 63 which contains an internal cam track 64. As best shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 7, the portion 63 is held stationary by'means of bolt members I30 and I3! which pass through a portion I32 of the housing 51, The curvature of the cam track 64 is best shown in Figure 9. A pair of diametrically opposite rollers 65 and 66 act as cam followers and ride in the internal cam track 64 which is generally annular but for a single cammed portion and upon movement of the rollers in the cam track move'radially inwardly and then outwardly dependent upon their position in the cam track 64. The roller 65 is carried-on one arm 67 of a bell-crank member 68 whichis pivoted at 69 An upwardly extending arm 16 comprises the remaining portion of the bell-crank 68, and in the position shown in Figure 9 the upwardly extending arm ill is spaced apart from'the movable rotor structure ll, as indicated by the space 12. The size'of the opening may be slightly adjusted by movement of a member 13 toward or away fromthe upwardly extending arm 10 by means of an adjusting: screw I4 operating through a shoulder in the movable rotor structure .11. The member 13 is also 'hinged about the pivot 65. The rotor structure H is equipped with an outwardly extending point 16 adjacent the space 72 and immediately above the member 13. When the needle 34 brings a strand of tie material upwardly through the-bale chamber, it deposits the strand in the space 12 in the rotor 41. The movable rotor structure H of the rotor 41rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 9 and the upwardly extending-point l6 acts to guide the strand 'of wire or the like down into the space 72 and specifically insures that the newly laid wire will rotate with the structure II. The roller 66 is similarly carried by an arm 1'! of a bell-crank member 18 pivoted at 19. The bell-crank member i 18" is equipped with an outwardly and downwardly extending arm 86 corresponding to the arm 10 of thez'bell-crank lever 68. The 'rotorstructure H is equipped with a point 8| extending outwardly from the regular aura-oer As shownin-Figure-fi the arm 80 of then-bellcrank lever- 18'has -moved' against. a"' gripping edge 31 of the adjustablelmember 83; A-lstrand of wire which-waspreviously laid inthe: space or opening ilfir isnow securely gripped;between a leading edge 88 of ther-bellecranki arm'VBD and the gripping edge 81 of the members'83. Another member89 ishingedlon theapivot 'l9 and i's-:provided with a shearing: edgeQII; The-member 89 may be adjusted by means: of an adjusting screw" 9| threadedly' engaging'the. shoulder 85; The members 83 and 89 are adjusted'insuch'amanner that the. shearing edge is positioned in::advance-.of the gripping edge. so..that'.as the-movable member 89- moves the strandof wire designatedby'the numeral 92; the wire is shearedlasthe leading edge 88 passes the shearing: edgezSO of the-member 89; Continued? movement of the 'movable memberflll causes a gripping of the wire 92 be.- tween the leading edge 88. andtheisubstantial'l parallel gripping edge. 81 ofthe memberllil As best shown in Figures5, thestrandl'of wire 92 gripped at the bottom oftherotor 41, as shown in- Figure 8, passes upwardly and around therotor and thereupon passes through-an open slotv93.

The wire initially deposited' in the opening or slot 86 has moved substantially 180, and upon rotation of thelrotor. the wirelis automatically threaded through the slot-93 by reasonof a curved lip entrance which direct the wire through the slot upon rotation of the rotor. As shown in Figure 4 the strand of wire 92"extendsforwardly through the slot 93 over thetwister hook 48, The needle 34 carries alloopedvstrandlof wire'having two ends 95 and 95' joined by an end'loop" 91 upwardly over the. twister'hook- 48 and over-the rotor head 41 in suchamannerthat the lower portion 95 of the looped strand is laid into the open slot 'IZ as shown in- Figure-6r The strands of wire 92 and 95 are nowplacedadjacent each other over the twister hook 48." The upperportion 96 of the looped strand-of wire isheld in aspaced above position over the hook 48 by means of the needle sheave 45. The strand 96-is-fed directly from the wire container 39 and as the rotor il rotates inthe direction indicated by the arrow 98, Figure 6, the needle 34 remains in its" uppermost position and a continued supply of wire is fed from the container 39, whereupon the strand which was formerly 96 winds up and around the rotor as'indicated by-the strand 92in Figure 5. As the'needle'is retracted' the strandpulls outwardly through the slot 93} The rotor 41 moves through substantially 180, atthe'end of which cycle it shear andgripsthe strand of wire El as shown in Figures' fi and 9: Duringthis' 180 movement of the rotor 4'I'the twister hook 48 makes one revolution so that the'strands of' wire 92 and 95 have substantially one twist there= in. As shown in Figure 7, the-wire for the'succeeding tie twist is gripped, as-shown' iniFigure" 8-, while the twister hook 48 continues forx'approximately two morerevoluti'o'ns so'that there are at least three full twists in the wires'92"and"" 95 at the completion of the tying operation. The one free end shown at '99 in Figure 7"is'that'portion of the wire sheared fromthe end of the clamped wire'which is-shown inFi'gure 8' andv the other free end of the wire twist is'that'portion I09 previously grippedas-shown'in'Figure-8- and not yet completely 'stripped-irom'the rotor 41. The bale is-then encircled by the -strands-" 92 and 95: and-held together by the -wire -tw-ist I EI'I which.:as;sh wn .in FigureT has not 'yet been" stripped from thetwisterliook-*'48% The freeendsor tails ee and IIlil-tend torotate with.;the twister hook 48 and thus in order to: complete the twist in the tie=-strand the ends must be held against rotational movement: A

;. guide bracket IZ'I' ha'sa-ilat portion' IZZY-welded or" otherwise iastenedtothe top of the bale forming chamberandan upwardly and forwardly-- inclined portion I29 which forms a'crotch I30 with the top of the 'bale 'chamber through which the wire ends 99 and I Ilfl are guided and have their rotary movement-stopped:

The rotor' ll; asshown in Figures 4-andZ5', is equipped with a cutting ed'ge element I03 'corresponding' to the e1ement'89-shown-on theunderside of the rotor in' l i'gure 81 This element is hinged on the pivotshaftGS andis-adjustableinto the solt l2' by means of an adjusting screw lil l' which is positioned closely adjacent the adjusting screw "I4 -for-the member I3:

The bale tying mechanism of this invention provides for two looped strands of wire to encircle the bale. This-is shown in-greater detail in Figure -11' in which two spaced twisting heads 48and 48 are shown: The-position of the tyingmechanism in Figure 11 corresponds tothat shown in Figure 4=-where the strands-of wire 92' and 92' are placed over the twister hooks and 48 respectively, prior'to the encircling of' thebale by the spaced needles 34; The twisting mechanism in Figure 13 corresponds to the position of thetwistingmechanism as shown in- Figure 6 wherein the new strand of wire'ilt'ha's been laid over=the.twister hook 48. Figure 14 shows the twister hook 48 after'it has made one revolution and ata time when the rotor head N -has made-a 180 rotation; A closed loop is thus formed ineach strand and. an initial por tion of a four strand twist is formed adjacent the loops. Figure 15'shows the four stran'cl'tie twist IIlI upon completion similarly to that shown inFigure 'T'and-just prior'to stripping of the twist from the twister hook.

As shown in Figure 11, the'shaft'49 in'addition to carrying'the' large bevel gears 50;:and iilcarries'an annularly grooved cam track I05 whichis shown in detail'in-"Figure' 12. The annular track I95" has a cammed portion" I86. A following. roller IU'I' isadapted to'ri-de inthe' 'annularicam. track I05. The roller I0! is mounted on a lever arm I08 pivoted'at I09 on a portion of the stationary housingjstructure" 51'; A's'the shaft 49 rotates, rotation isimparted to the gears 50 and; 59' and also the camtrackIflS; The cam follower roller is moved laterallyfas thezroller rides in the cammed portion I06 ofthe annular track I05. A lower extension, III] of the lever arm I93. is provided with an enlarged wide end. III adapted to carry th'e ends of links H2 and H3 at H4 and H5 respectively; The connections It and' H5areof apivotal' nature to permit free movement of the links I IZia'nd H3 as theyqare. moved by action ofthe cam 'follower It l in the, cam track I05. The'outerends of'the links H2] andI I3-respective1yijoin members H6 and ill. at H8-and H9 The membersH-Ii' and'l-l'i are. combination wire holdout and stripper elements Each is hingedlymountedat its .upper end'at 525i.

and HI and isprovidediatfitsllower end with a cross member; I22and I23; Asthe lever. Hi8 isl, rocked" about its pivot I09 the. connectingllinksl. H2 and I I3 are adapted to vswinglthe members, IIEand HIabouttheirlpivots I2lljand I2I. The; cam 'track' IE5 is arranged. and positioned in such: a manner as to position the cross member i227 and I23 over the twister hooks 48 and48 after each twister hook has commenced rotation and just prior to the wire carrying needle bringing up a new strand of wire as shown in Figure 14, wherein the new strand is designated as I24 and is held in spaced above position over the twister hook 48 so asnot to interfere with the tie twist of the preceding bale. Each of the members H and I I1 is also provided with a stripping member I25 and I26 which, as shown in Figure 15, is moved to an extreme left position after the twister hook 48 has completed its full three revolutions and thus moves the tie twist IIJI from the bill hook of the twister 48. Just as soon as the tie IOI from the preceding bale is removed from the hook 48, the members H6 and Ill are moved to an out of the way position by reason of the configuration of the cam track I05, permitting the newly laid wire I24 to drop down onto thetwister hook 48. a This sets the stage for the ensuing cycle and the tying of a newly formed bale.

the cycles of the various moving elements in the baler. The units of measurement extending around the circumference of the chart indicate periods of time and the units of radial measurement indicate linear distances of travel of the various elements. The complete cycle includes one full reciprocation of the bale forming plunger 2I as indicated by the letter A. The needle travel is shown by the graph B. The needle commences its movement substantially 130 after the initial movement of the plunger and it is not materially moved up into the bale, chamber until the plunger has substantially withdrawn. Certain of the elements do not have movement through linear distances but have a definite timed relationship with the moving bale plunger and needle, the movements of which are operation elapse after the end of the needle rise before the clamping or holding member 80 grips the Wire in the rotor head 41. of baler cycle operation are equal to substantially 180 rotation of the rotor head 41. Clamping of the wire occurs at approximately 255 of the baler cycle operation. While the wire is still clamped the twister hook 48 commences rotation about its own axis at approximately 265 of baler cycle operation. The wire carrying needle ends its top pause at approximately 285 of baler cycle operation and commences its downward travel. One complete twist by the twisterhook 4B is completed at approximately 325 of baler cycle operation. The clamping cycle ends at 310 of baler cycle operation and thus it is evident that one of the tie wires is substantially held throughout the major portion of the first full twist of the bale tie. The twister hook continues rotation to complete the tie twist where it reaches its end at substantially 85 of the next cycle of baler operation. At 75 of the succeeding cycle of operation the stripper members I25 and I26 commence their lateral movement to move the tietwist IOI from the hooks 48 and 48'. At aptheir stripping operation.

Figure 16 shows a graphic chart incorporating.

Numerous details of this invention may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from theprinciple disclosed herein and we therefore 'do', notv propose limiting the patent granted. hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the .appended claims.

What is claimed: is:

1. In abaler having a bale forming chamber for receiving and compressing material, said baler comprising a source of continuous tie strand positioned on one side of the bale chamber, a strand holder and cutting device on the other side of the bale forming chamber, a twister element spaced from the strand holder and cutting device on the samev side of the bale forming chamber,

meanson said strand holder and cutting device for holding one end of the tie strand, said strand extending from its-end holding position on and over the twister'elem'ent and across the bale forming chamber whereby material is compressed lengthwise of said bale forming chamber against the strand extending across the bale chamber, needle means on the side of the bale forming chamber adjacent the source of tie strand for.

carrying a looped portion of said continuous strand across the bale forming chamber over the twister element to the strand holder and cutting device after a bale has been fully formed and the strand has been extended around two sides and one end of the bale, means in said strand holder and cutting device for receiving one part of said looped portion of said continuous strand spacedfrom theoriginally held strand end, means for rotating said twister element to initially twist the strands thereonthrough a predetermined angular-distance, first clamping means in said strand holder and cutting device operable to release the originally held strand end, cutter means in said strand holder and cutting device for cutting the looped portion of the strand into two parts, second clamping means arranged and constructed to hold one of said strand parts for the encircling of a bale to be subsequently formed, said other parts being released, and said means for rotating said twister element arranged and constructed to continue rotation of said twister element to positively intertwist the ends of the bale encircling strand.

2. In a baler having a bale forming chamber for receiving and compressing material, said baler comprising a source of continuous tie strand positioned on one side of the bale chamber, a strand holder and cutting device on the other side of the bale forming chamber, a twister element spaced from the strand holder and cutting device on the same side of. the bale forming chamber, means on said strand holder and cutting device for holding oneend of the tie strand, said strand extending from its end holding position on and over the twister element and across the bale forming chamber whereby material is compressed lengthwise of said bale forming chamber against the strand extending across the bale chamber, needle means on the sidev of the bale forming chamber adjacent the source of tie strand for carrying a looped portion of said continuous strand across the bale forming chamber over the twister elementto the strand holder and cutting device after a bale has been fully formed and the strand has been extended around two sides and one end of the bale, means in said strand holder and-cutting device for receiving one part of said looped portion of said continuous strand spaced from the originally held strand end, means for rotating said twister element to initial.

, ly= twistthe strands thereon through. a predetermined angular distancepfirst clamping means in said strandholderand cutting device operable to release the originally held strand end, cutting means in said strand holderzand cutting device 'for cutting the loopedsportion of the strand into two parts, second clamping means in said strand holder and-'cuttingdevice operable toholdoneof said partstior the encircling of a'bale to be subsequently formed, said other part :being released, said-means for rotating "said twister element arranged and constructed to continue rotation of .said twister element to positively intertwist the endsof the bale encircling strand, a twist'stripipinggelemenuand means operable to move :said

stripping element acrosssaiditwister element :upon

the completionof. the rotationof said twister element.

3. In a-baler. having a bale forming chamber .LIor'IeceiVing and compressing material, said baler comprising asourceof continuous tie strand'po- :sitioned on one side of thebale chamber,a strand holderand cutting device on the other side of the .bale forming chamber, a twister element spaced fromithestrand holder and cutting device on .the .same1side of the bale'forming chamber, means :on said "strand holder and cutting device foriholding one end o'fthetie strand, said strand extending from' itsIend :holding'position on and over'the twister element and across the bale forming chamber ewhereby material .is compressed a-lengthwise ofsaid bale forming chamber against the strand extending across the bale chamber,

ineedle means 'on'the *side of the 'bale forming chamber xadjacent "the'source of tie strand for carrying -a looped portion'of said continuous strand across the Lbale forming chamber over the twister element to the strand holderand cutting device :aftena'bale has been fully formed-and the'strandhas been extended around two sides and one end ofthe bale, means in said strand holder andtcuttingcdevice for receiving one part originally held strand end, cutting means in said strand-'holderiandcutting deviceifor cutting the loopedportion o'f'the strand into two parts, second clamping means operable to hold one of said parts for the encircling of a bale to be subsequently formed, said other parts being released,

said-means for rotating-said twister element arranged and constructed to continuerotationof said twister element to positively intertwist the ends of the bale encircling strand, a strand holdout member, and means operable to move said holdout member-to-a position spaced over said twister element during the completion of rotation of thetwisterelementwhereby-when the needle means is retracted to its original side the part of the looped strand held is carried over the holdout member and out of contact with the twister element.

4. In a baler having a bale forming chamber for receiving and compressing material, said baler comprising a source of continuous tie strand positioned on one side of the bale chamber, a strand holder and cutting device on the other side of the bale forming chamber, a twister element spaced from the strand holder and cutting device on the same side of the bale forming chamber, means on said strand holder and cutting device for-holding one endv of the 'tiexstrand, said strand extending from its end holding position on and over I the twister. element and across the bale forming-chamber wherebyrmaterial is compressed lengthwisepisaid' bale forming chamber against "the strand extending across the bale chamber;:needle.means on the :side;of the bale forming-chamber:adjacent the source of tie strand for carrying a, looped portion-of saidtcontinuous strand. across thebaleforming chamber'over the twister element to therstrand holderand cutting device after a bale has been fully formed. and the strandhas rbeen'extended around two sides and one, end of the bale, meansin said strand holder and-cutting device "for receiving one part of said looped: portion of. said continuous strand spaced from the originally i. held strand end, means for rotating saidltwister element to twist the strands thereon through a predetermined angulardistance, forming thereby a closed loop in each strand: and a four strand-twist adjacent the loop, and means'for subsequently operating the strand .holder and cuttingldevice to effect release of the originally held strand and cutting the looped portion of the continuous strand.

#5. In a baler having a bale forming chamber for receiving and compressing material, said baler'comprising a source-of continuous tie strand positioned on one side of the bale chamber, a

strand :ihol'der and'cutting device on the other side of thebale forming chamber, a twister element spaced from the strand holder and cutting device on the sameside'of the bale forming chamber, means onsaid strand holder and cutting deViCefOr holding one end of the tie strand, said'strand extending from its end holding position on and overthe twisterelement and across the bale forming chamber whereby material is compressed lengthwiseof said bale forming chamber against the strand extending across the bale chamber, needle meanson the side of the bale forming chamber "adjacent the source of tie strand for carrying a looped portionof said continuous strand across the bale forming chamber over the twister element to the strand holder and cutting device after a bale has been'fully formed and the strand has been extended around two sides and one end of the bale, means in said strandholder and cutting device for receivin one part of said looped portion of said continuous strand spaced :from the originally held strand end, means for rotating said .twister element .to initially twist the, strands thereonthrough a predetermined angular distance, forming thereby acIosed-loop in each strandand an initial portion of a four stranditwistadjacent theloops,

means for subsequently operating .the strand holder'and cutting device to efiectreleaseof the originally held strand and cuttingof thelooped portion of the continuous strand, and said means for rotating the twisterrelement thereafter further rotating the twister i element .to additionally annular track in the stationary part, the other arm of said bell crank member extending outwardly and being formed and positioned with respect to a portion of the rotor adjacent the notch to provide shear type cutting means, and being further provided with means cooperating with a portion of the rotor adjacent the notch'to form a holding means for one end of a strand severed by the cutting means,.said cammed portion arranged and constructed to move the outwardly extending bell crank arm across the notch to operate the cutting means and the holding means.

7. In a self-tying baler, a strand handling device comprising a stationary member having an internal generally annular track with a single cam portion, a rotor member mounted for rotational movement adjacent said stationary member, said rotor member having diametrically opposed notches in the periphery thereof, a bell crank member pivotally mounted on said rotor and positioned between the rotor and stationary members, said bell crank member having two angularly disposed arms, a cam follower on one of said bell crank member arms adapted to engage the annular track in the stationary member, the other arm of said bell crank member extending outwardly and being formed and positioned with respect to a portion of the rotor member adjacent one notch to provide shear type cutting means, and being further provided with means cooperating with a portion of the rotor adjacent the notch to form a holding means for one end of a strand severed by the cutting means, a second bell crank member pivotally mounted on said rotor member and positioned between the rotor and stationary members, said second bell crank memher having two angularly disposed arms, and a cam follower on one of said second bell crank member arms adapted to engage the annular track at a position spaced substantially diametrically opposite the cam follower on the first of said bell crank members, the other arm of said second bell crank member extending outwardly and beingformed and positioned with respect to a portion of the rotor adjacent the other notch to provide shear type cutting means, and being further provided with means cooperating with a portion of the rotor adjacent the notch to form a holding means for one end of a strand severed by the cutting means, said cammed portion arranged and constructed to move the outwardly extending arm of the first bell crank member across the one notch during the first half revolution of the rotor member to operate the cutting means and the holding means and to retract that arm and move the outwardly extending arm of the second bell crank member across the other of said notches during the second half revolution of the rotor member to operate the cutting means and the holding means.

8. In a self-tying baler, a strand handling device comprising a stationary member having, an 6 internal generally annular track with a single cam portion, a rotor member mounted for rotational movement adjacent said stationary menber, said rotor member having diametrically opposed pairs of closely spaced notches in the periphery thereof, a bell crank member pivotally mounted on said rotor and positioned between the rotor and stationary members, said bell crank member having two angularly disposed arms, a cam follower on one of said bell crank member arms adapted to engage the annular track in the stationary member, the other arm of said bell crank member extending outwardly and being formed and positioned with respect to a portion of the rotor member adjacent one notch of a first pair to provide shear type cutting means, and being further provided with means cooperatingwith'a portion of the rotor adjacent that notch to form a holding means for one end of a strand severed by the cutting means, a second bell crank member pivotally mounted on said rotor member and positioned between the rotor and stationary members, said second bell crank member having two angularly disposed arms, and a cam followeron one of said second bell crank member arms adapted to engage the annular track at a position spaced substantially diamet rically opposite the cam follower on the first of said bell crank members, the other arm of said second bell crank member extending outwardly and being formed and positioned with respect to a portion of the rotor adjacent the notch in the second of said pairs of notches diametrically opposite the notch having the outwardly extending arm of the first bell crank member adjacent thereto to provide shear type cutting means, and being further provided with means cooperating with a portion of the rotor adjacent the notch to form a holding means for one end of a strand severed by the cutting means, said cammed portion arranged and constructed to move the outwardly extending arm of the first bell crank member across the one notch during the first half revolution of the rotor member to operate the cutting means and the holding means to hold a strand end during the retraction of the strand and positioning it'around the periphery of the rotor and into one of the closely spaced notches, and to retract that arm and move the outwardly extending arm of the second bell crank member across the other of said notches during the second half revolution of the rotor member to oper ate the cutting means and the holding means. RUSSELL R. RANEY. JAMES H. BORNZIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,257,465 Dudley Feb. 26, 1918 1,534,359 Collins Apr. 21, 1925 1,590,319 Robbins June 29, 1926 2,413,378 Raney Dec. 31, 1946 

